To me, the "Wizard" is Walt and what he means to us, that's the issue. The "witches" are just decoys to distract us from what they can't let us see.

The sad thing is that deep inside we all know that that the "Wizard" is gone and so is his vision, but we are addicted to the machinations of the "men behind the curtain" puppeteering his "Believe" pyrotechnic presence, and we'd would rather live in his manufactured "World of Color" so we stay tuned..forever. "The men" just continue to run the smoke effects and pyros to distract us all into thinking that the "Wizard" still is behind the vision of the place, and to some degree it works.

Utopia? Nah. They'd have to make that one REAL. There are no existing "smoke effects" for that. Use the characters. Sure, there is a "Cowardly Lion" from Pixar that shows up from time to time, but they just perm his mane and he's fine.

The sooner we admit to ourselves that what the "Wizard" tell us "Oz" stands for is nothing more than a "special effect" run by those who send us out to buy limited edition, souvenir brooms, the better off we'll be. We've been "sleeping in the poppies" too long. Some of us can't quit hoping as "Rainbows" seem open ended and that's ok too.. The two worlds do connect...

And for those who keep hoping, here's the Wizard's "Conscience" Jiminy Cricket singing "Somewhere over the Rainbow". No crying please.http://www.amazon.com/Singing-Rain-Cliff-Ukulele-Edwards/dp/B000001UPE

you guys are too inside. Perhaps too bitter about what everyone has to deal with in the workplace. It is a bit of a catch 22 really. While I appreciate your steadfast devotion and protection of the ideal, I fear your bickering is undermining it at the same time.

Enjoy what you can enjoy and relax a bit. Don't lose your devotion but lose your venom.

People need to get off that churro they're sitting on and get a sense of humor. I think the whole point was to show that Mr. Staggs and Mr. Rasulo are interchangeable in that both are bean-counting money men. If people would have actually READ the press release from WDC they would see that is EXACTLY what both are and little if anything is going change when it comes to the parks.

I'm sorry you removed the original post - I did think it funny and it was a great illustration of the type of executive Disney is turning out. Perhaps the new one will vacate before someone drops a house on him too...

The funny thing about the "Oz" analogy is that in the end it was all just a bad dream and Dorothy woke to realize that she just hit her head and there was nothing to fear.

Maybe all this villianizing is just in our heads? Wake up and see the billions being spent to improve the parks, better Cruise ships, traditional animation, and new technology all at a time when the country is going bankrupt.

The funny thing about the "Oz" analogy is that in the end it was all just a bad dream and Dorothy woke to realize that she just hit her head and there was nothing to fear.

I remember Dorothy waking up and desperately trying to convince her aunt, Prof Marvel, and the work hands that it wasn't a "bad dream," that her travel to Oz was real.

Well, I'm siding with Dorothy on this one. The witches are real, as well as the smoke and mirrors from the wizard. Sure, some things have improved, but at what cost? Prices keep going up while quality overall continues to decline. The cost of admission, food, and merchandise will never stop outpacing inflation, and they're already exorbitant.

Given the hyper focus on the bottom line by the Strategic Planning witches, by the time Carsland opens in DCA, my dear, I won't give a damn. (Sorry; wrong film.)

"Ms. Gale, what is the main reason you won't be taking your family on a magical Disney park vacation this year?"

"There's no place like home... there's no place like home... there's no place like home."

I agree that too many of these posts taste of venom and corporate political garbage and bitterness from people perhaps passed over for better positions.Spokker they are not "public figures" like politicians, and the law would say the same thing. They are only public in that they work for a public corporation. Iger might be more of the public figure.I think everyone needs to stop espousing so much negative vibes about a fun place like the Disney parks. To hear everyone talk in posts and comments on this blog you would think they were no longer the happiest places on earth, but the worst places to visit and work.All of this is beginning to be to the detriment of the Disney fun we should all love.If there are going to be criticisms posted, let them be well written instead of what has become cheap shots and trite negative thought.

To hear everyone talk in posts and comments on this blog you would think they were no longer the happiest places on earth, but the worst places to visit and work.

The Disney parks never fully live up to their marketing taglines of being the happiest places on the planet, nor are they the worst. You're the one choosing to see our criticisms in such absolutes. Most of us have always discerned the varying shades of grey.

All of this is beginning to be to the detriment of the Disney fun we should all love.

"Should love"? No one is holding a gun to my head, forcing me to snort pixie dust. Some fans, such as yourself, choose to become addicted. Most of the commenters on this blog exercise better judgment and know when to quit.

Criticism does not equal hate. The ability to reflect honestly about something that's greatly respected and admired is a sign of maturity, not jealousy or envy. You're mistaking disappointment and frustration for childish resentment. Fantasy dependency will often initiate such confusion.

No one can stop your pixie dust addiction by you. That is a choice you must make for yourself. Most of us here made that choice, years ago. Waking up to the cold reality of Walt's Legacy being strip mined into barren desert is the first step, which you're obviously far removed from at this time.

If you want to keep snorting the pixie dust and stay safely snuggled in your fantasy fog, feel free. But please keep your dissonance to yourself and stop blaming others for your denial.

We choose not to be addicted and call the pushers out for who and what they are. If you can't handle criticism against your dealers, then you might want to find another playground to hang around to replenish your supply.

Mr Banks is spot on, as usual. D23 is overflowing with pixie dust addicts, such as yourself. I'm confident they would warmly welcome you and your disposable income with open palms.

I have no dissonance. I'm fully aware of what I enjoy about Disney, and what I do not. I've also been fully aware of why I'm displeased with the Disney parks for the past decade, which has nothing to do with disgruntled employment. I also fully recognize pixie dust addicts when I encounter them. It's not terribly difficult while one is clean and sober.

As for the varying shades of grey, you're the one who used the all-or-nothing references to comments on this blog. I've consistently noted my frustration with the ongoing rise in admission, food, and merchandise prices at the parks in the shadow of declining quality and lowered executive expectations. You've offered no such support for why Disney doesn't deserve critique.

I no longer visit the parks but once every few years, because of these downturns. I used to travel to both Anaheim and Orlando every year, but no longer find it worth my time and money, and subsequently spend those dollars elsewhere. If you still find value in the Disney park experience, fine. I can no longer justify the expense.

And don't bother telling me I have to "promote positive change" simply because you believe criticizing Disney is wrong. That kind of attitude is the very essence of pixie dust addiction, frequently found amongst the D23 members.

If you don't like what you find on this blog, you're free to parade your Disney Magic™ side effects elsewhere.

"Spokker they are not "public figures" like politicians, and the law would say the same thing."

They absolutely are public figures. They are the ones the company chooses to make announcements. Rasulo in particular is quoted in press releases about that One-Disney nonsense that millions of Disney fans were personally writing to him about demanding that they adopt a policy of homogenizing across all Disney theme parks. There is nothing inherently wrong about calling him out on his BS by criticizing him in an satirical manner.

Attacking Rasulo isn't like attacking some poor, young Imagineer working in the trenches watching his ideas get passed over for the latest fad that must absolutely be injected into the park before the accompanying DVD goes on sale.

Rasulo and his ilk are absolutely public figures, grown ups, and can take some pointed criticism from time to time.

Some fans, such as yourself, choose to become addicted. Most of the commenters on this blog exercise better judgment and know when to quit.

As a former pixie dust snorter - I too visited the Parks once a year - I found it quite easy to get the monkey off my back - all it took was the declining quality and misuse of the Disney philosophy by CEOs and corporate officers more concerned about the yearly bonus they can suck out of stockholders than their contribution to the public. Toto, we ARE in Kansas...it's dingy, dusty and a shadow of what it used to be.

Well I've come back to the parks after a many years absence. You know what? Except for a few aging out dated attractions, such as Innoventions and Autopia, you guys are wrong.Was at Disneyland last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed myself. And I'm not a pixie duster.I enjoyed small world, the enhanced pirates, Winnie the Pooh the Haunted Mansion Christmas and the Tiana river show.Going to the park was fun!I'm trying to see this decline in quality, but don't.

Wow, You went so far as to delete an engaging topic? Why? To satisfy all of the (3)Anons, because the thread isn't "PC" enough? Thats the same problem the Park has, and continually goes through. Haven't we all learned that by now?

Stop pussyfooting around what could be,potential problems, and stop silencing yourselves. This blog is getting way too soft and mute, and was much better when people were not afraid to, and were allowed to express their opinions openly.

If you cannot feel free to express your own opinions on your own blog in a creative way, then I am left speachless.

Don't let Anons dictate what is "acceptable" and "not acceptable" posts here. Really, it only takes 4 seconds to create the username "Dumbo"...

You got it all wrong. Iger has become the Godfather of the Disney family. He is keeping his friends close, but his enemies closer. And everybody from the old regime that stands in his way, or defies him, or thinks independently, has been given their cement overshoes and sleeps with the fishes. And now the underbosses and capos in the Company, like Rich Ross at the Studios, are cleaning up their crews and putting everyone in line with the new "corporate strategy". So it seems that Godfather Iger has made the Walt Disney Company an offer it can't refuse: it's either Iger's way, or the highway.

How much is there to the idea that Iger is setting up for his retirement? Some of the latest actions could very well be the request of those topical two waiting in the wings. It would explain a lot.. and Bob seems a little far minded lately.

I still think at the end of the day that DL is a great value. Compared to a movie, you get a full day of amazing experiences. Parades. fireworks, shows and rides. Even in it's compromised state it's a good deal compared to other offerings.

Spokker, I don't see how you can offer salient commentary on the current state of the park or its attractions if you haven't been there in two years.I too used to think the parks were running down, but now I don't think they are as bad as they were. Who knows why.And I'm still not a pixie duster.

It was Iger not Eisner that greenlit the funds to bring DL back from it's dry rot for the 50th.

Not true.

Matt Ouimet was brought in to replace Cynthia Harriss in the fall of 2003, a mere 18 months before the 50th anniversary was slated to begin. All of the wondrous refurbishment done during those 18 months happened under Ouimet, not Harriss.

Eisner, not Iger, was still at the helm of TWDC when Ouimet was promoted from the Disney Cruise Line. Iger was not named as Eisner's successor until March 2005, just two months before the 50th celebration began.

I ran across this post in theme park insider that recounts a recent panel discussion by those who "Walked with Walt". The point is how Walt used positive energy to improve and suggest change instead of personal critique. Maybe that approach would be useful in this forum?

No matter how many wishes and good will thoughts, all of the problem lies with Eisner and his hand picked IGER & other Disney executives. Eisner's legacy has turned Disney into what it is today. Eisner is still the 2nd largest individual shareholder (under Steve Jobs). And Steve Jobs' stock sale provisions doesn't give him any pull in the company. Thus the only change will be fantasy faux, - and that will continue until Bob Iger, and other Eisner executives as well as certain board of directors are REMOVED from the Disney Company. Remember, Roy Disney started sometime with his SAVEDISNEY, but soon abandoned it when he got a shiny new Disney Desk.